Process of bleaching and dyeing vegetable and animal fibers



Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ARTHUR S. ROBERTS, OF GREENVILLE, SOUT H CABOLINA,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 sUarAss CHEMICAL (10., me, ACORPORATION or New YORK.

rn'ocnss or BLEACHING AND DYEING VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL FIBERS,

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. Ronnn'rs,

- terially reduced and the quality of the dyeing improved. Heretoforethe bleaching and dyeing operation involved from three to twelve hourswhile in the operation of my process the time is cut down toapproximately one hour, more or less. It pertains to the dyeing andbleaching of vegetable fiber materials such as cotton, flax and the likeas well as to animal fibrous materials such as wool, fur and the likeand is applicable moreover to the dyeing and bleaching of feathers,silk, etc. all of which substances may by. my process be treated withsubstantive and basic dyestuffs either in their seperate material stateor when in a combined state with one or the other.

In the prevailing processes of dyeing and bleaching it has been founddesirable to subject the material to be dyed to two baths or where 'suchmaterial was subjected to but one bath the processes required aconsiderable time for the complete operation. In the former casethere'was the objectionable consumption and expenditure of labor: in thelatter case there wasthe objectionable consumption of time. My processhereinafter described obviates both of these objections and attains allof the desired results.

Applicant has found that, due to the bleaching agencies contained in analkaline oxidizing agent such as peroxide of sodium, or sodium perboratewhen a certain amount of acid, preferably mineral acid such as sulphuric-or hydrochloric acid is added thereto, the substantive or basicdyestuff maybe added thereto in the same bath and the process may becarried out in a comparatively much shorter time than heretoforerequired. It is understood, of course,

Application filed March 30, 1921. Serial No. 457,087.

that the dyeing takes place first and that the bleaching followsthereupon, these character1st1cs of substantive or basic dyes being wellk nown to those skilled in the art and requiring therefore no furthermention. Ap plicant has also found that when cotton, wool, fur, silk orfeathers are dyed iii the same bath with peroxide of SOdllllIl and ammeral acid such as sulphuric or hydrochlone acid, the time of theoperation is not only shortened, but that the dyes are of the dyeing isgreatly improved, and that the dyebath isentirely exhausted.

The process of dyemg and bleaching is preferably carried out in the sameor single bath at one and the same time as follows (the proportions ofthe several substances being given solely by way of example.) Thematerial to be dyed and bleached is placed in the dye tub or box withouthaving been prevlously wet-out and cold water sufiicient to carry outthe operation is then run in. In a separate tub or barrel is then mixedthe alkaline oxidizing agent such as peroxide of sodium, or sodiumperborate, the acid such as sulphuric or hydrochloric acid and thedyestuffs, approximately the followin amounts and proportions being usedto eac 1 one hundred pounds of material to be dyed v and bleached.

*vention modified within the scope of the appended claims.

This mixture should be cooled down not to exceed 7 0 F. and is thenpoured into the dye tub or box and left to run. for fifteen minutes,relatively cold. The steam is then turned on and-temperature raised to180 F. and the material is run for forty five minutes at about thistemperature. The bath is then dumped and the material washed and dried.

The foregoing mixture or one of substantially similar proportion resultsin a bath which is substantially neutralized as contra-distinguishedfrom baths which are either strongly alkaline or acid baths. In theperformance of my process it is unnecessary to subject the mixture to avariation of temperatures the temperature after it has reached in theneighborhood of 180 F. remaining at substantially that temperatureexcept as the same may become lower within a narrow range during thetime required for practicing my process.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent is 1. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the sametime in a single bath which comprises subjecting the material to be dyedto a bath haying added thereto the dye, an alkaline oxidizing agent anda neutralizlng agent.

2. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a single bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bath havingadded thereto a substantive dye, an alkaline oxidizing agent and aneutralizing agent.

3. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a single bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bath havingadded thereto a dye, an alkaline oxidizing agent and a neutralizingacid.

4. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a single bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed'to a bat-h havingadded thereto a substantive dye, an alkaline oxidizing agent and aneutralizing acid.

5. The process of dyeing. and bleaching which comprises subjecting thematerial to be dyed to a bath having added thereto an alkaline oxidizingagent and a neutralizing agent and dyeing the material with asubstantive dye.

6. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a slngle bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bath atapproximately atmospheric temperature andheating the bath to atemperature below the boiling point, the bath having added to it a dye,an alkaline oxidizing agent and a neutralizing agent.

7. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a single bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bath atapproximately atmospheric temperature and heating the bath to atemperature below the boiling point, the bath having added to it adirect dye, an alkaline oxidizing agent and a neutralizing agent.

8. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a single bathwhich comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bath comprisinga neutralized solution in water of a dye and an alkaline oxidizingagent, said dye being operatively unaffected by the other ingredients ofsaid solution.

9. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time in a singlebat-h which comprises subjecting the material to be dyed to a bathhaving added to it approximatel one and one-half arts of an alkaline oxiizing agent, one-ha f part inorganic acid, and a dye operativelyunaffected by any other ingredient of the bath, said parts being by:lveight for 100 parts of the material to be 10. The process of dyeingand bleaching at the same time and in a single bath, cotton, wool, fur,silk or feathers, the bath containing peroxide 'of sodium, sulphuricacid, dirpfct or substantive dyestufi and basic dyestu 11. The processof dyeing and bleaching at the same time and in a single bath, cotton,wool, fur, silk or feathers, the bath containing peroxide of sodium,sulphuric acid, and a direct or substantive dyestufi.

12. The process of dyeing and bleaching at the same time and in a singlebath, cotton.- wool, fur, silk or feathers, and bath contain ing analkaline oxidizing agent, sulphuric acid, and a direct or substantivedyestuff.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this25th day of March 1921.

ARTHUR S. ROBERTS.

